Removable ventilating pitcher-cover.



Paiented, Oct. 23, I900. A. BRENNAN, A. SMLTH &. A. GBAHAM. REMOVABLE VENTILATING PITCHER COVER.

' (Application filed July 2, 1900.) (No Model.)

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER DRENNAN, ANDREW SMITH, AND ARCHIE GRAHAM, OF BODIE, CALIFORNIA.

REMOVABLE VENTILATING PITCH ER-COVER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 660,370, dated October 23, 1900.

Application filed July 2, 19000 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER DREN- NAN, ANDREW SMITH, and ARCHIE GRAHAM, citizens of the United States,residing at Bodie, in the county of lWIono', State of California, have invented an Improvement in Removable Ventilating Pitcher-Covers; and we hereby, declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to a device for preventing the access of flies and insects to pitchers and like containing articles, a means'for' providing ventilation for the contents, and means for removably attaching the device to' the pitcher, so that they can be separated and perfectly cleaned.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the figure illustrates a perspective view. of a pitcher embodying our invention.

We have here shown our invention as applied to a pitcher A of ordinary construction, having a reverse curved top, with a handle at one side and a pouring-spout at the other.

2 is a cover formed with a screen or perforated surface and exactly fitted to the outline of the top of the pitcher. This cover is preferably provided with a short downwardlyprojecting flange 3, extending entirely around the periphery of the cover from the handle, and when the cover is closed this depending rim adds to the security.

4 is a ring of elastic wire adapted to surround the pitcher at the smallest part between the swell of the body and the outwardly-turned upper periphery. This ring may be made of steel or other elastic wire and is continuous from the front around both sides to points or angles 5, which closely approach each other interior to the upper part of the handle, but are not united. From these angles elastic arms formed continuously with the same wire extend upwardly, diverging upon either side of the junction of the pitcher-handle with the top, and above this junction the wire extends across, as shown at 6, forming an approxi mately-straight rod. The whole of this portion from the angles 5 and including the straight rod 6 forms a loop of sufficient size to allow the approaching angles 5 to be separated by the elasticity of the loop and lifted over the handle, thus disengaging the ring 4,

Serial No. 22,294. (No model.)

' so that it can be entirely removed from the pitcher,and it can be replaced upon the pitcher by correspondingly separating the angles 5 and springing them over the handle, thefront of the ring 4 having first been placed beneath the spout of the pitcher.

The'cover 2 is connected with the loop at the rear of the ring by s'piral coils 7 of sufficiently elastic wire, one end of each coil extending forward over the cover of the pitcher, to which it is soldered or otherwise secured, and the other end extending downwardly along the sides of the upturned loop and secured thereto between the angles 5 and the 5 bar 6, so that the cover is hinged upon the bar 6 by means of the coils, and when the front is lifted to open the spout of the pitcher a tension will be brought upon the coil which provides a sufficiently elastic pressure to close the cover whenever it is released.

In order to conveniently open and close the cover, we have shown a thumb-piece 8, consisting of a loop of wire, the bight of which curves upwardly in front of the bar 6, and

the extensions therefrom are secured-say at the points 8to the cover by soldering or otherwise.

By pressing upon the upturned loop 8 the cover will be lifted, turning aboutthe ful- 8o crum-bar 6 and correspondingly compressing the spring, and when released the spring acts to close the cover.

By this device pitchers and similar articles are provided with a screen or ventilatingcover which fits closely enough to prevent any access to the interior, with a convenient means for opening it when the contents are needed. The ring and the elastic loop serve to conveniently attach the device to the we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a pitcher, of a cover therefor, a wire ring surrounding the neck of the pitcher and extending over the rear of the cover said ring having laterallyloo expansible bends at the rear to enable it to be removed from the pitcher, and springs having one member secured to the cover and having another member connecting with the ring at a pointbetween the rear bends thereof and the portion which passes over the cover.

2. The combination with a pitcher, of a cover, a wire ring surrounding the pitcher between the swell of the body and the outer curve at the top, said wire formed with angular rear bends and thence carried over the rear of the cover, and said bends separated from each other to allow them to expand to remove the ring, and springs having coils encircling the portion of wire which extends over the rear of the cover, and each having one member secured to the cover and another member secured to the ring at a point between said rearportion and the angular bends, for normally closing the cover.

3. The combination with a pitcher of a screen or perforated cover curved to fit the outline of the top of the'pitcher, having a,

dependent surrounding flange, a wire ring surrounding the smaller part of the pitcher between the swell of the body and the outward curve of the top, a loop formed by a continuation of the ring turned upwardly upon each side of the handle having a bar extending across above the handle, to which the cover is hinged, said loop and ring being elastic and capable of being spread at the point where it clasps the pitcher whereby the de vice can be entirely removed therefrom.

4. The combination with a pitcher of a cover of screen or perforated material having a depending flange, and curved to fit the upper edge of the pitcher, a ring surrounding the smaller part of the pitcher below the divergent upper edge, said ring being continuous around the body of the pitcher to points where it approaches interior to the handle, thence turned upwardly and divergent upon each side of the handle,thence forming a cross bar or rod above the handle, coiled springs surrounding said bar having one end attached to the cover and the other to the upturned portions of the loop and a thumb-piece at tached to the cover and curved upwardly with relation to the cover and transverse rod.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

ALEXANDER BRENNAN. ANDREW SMITH. ARCHIE GRAHAM.

Witnesses to Drennan; S. H. NoURsE, H. F. ASOHEOK. Witnesses to Smith and Graham:

WM. STEWART, N. W. BOYD. 

